The Luna

12

Dex and Travis say nothing as they usher me to the house. They don't need to say anything though. I can feel it, sense it, as if it was tangible in the air.

They're tense, looking around at the yard and watching me like a hawk, as if they're unsure if a threat lurks around the corner or if I'm going to run. And yet, they have said nothing of the stranger I saw in the woods. Malachi. They didn't even mention having sensed him, or questioned who I had been talking to. I wonder if he was sent here as some sort of test for me? To see how I would react to another wolf approaching me in a somewhat similar situation like Caspian had?

I quickly dismissed the thought though. There was something in Malachi's tone and face that made me think he wasn't lying and no one could be that good of an impromptu actor. Could they?

The front door swings open roughly just before I can reach for it. Caspian stands there, his chest rising and falling with quick breaths as if he had been running. His wild eyes land on mine and I see relief sweep through him like a wave, as he takes in my shocked form.

"My Luna," he breathes, his arms reaching for me, pulling me to him in a vice-like grip. I squeaked a little as I hit his firm chest, not expecting him to be hugging me so tightly. I can see his parents standing behind him, looking nearly as relieved as Caspian as he buries his head in my hair.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" His eyes roam all over me inspecting me for any type of injury as his hands hold me in place by my shoulders. Seemingly satisfied and relieved with not finding any harm to me, his eyes meet mine as he whispers, "Don't scare me like that again, Mia,"

He pulls me back to him, his lips pressing against the top of my head as one of his hands strokes down my back.

"I'm sorry," I say, even though I don't think I have anything to apologize for. Well, it's true that I didn't mean to cause him to worry. I mean he, himself, told me that I wasn't really in danger here. Only that I was breakable compared to these wolves. But even these strange woods seem like the ones from home and no wolf would go against the Alpha family. Would they?

My mind flashes to Malachi telling me that I am, in fact, in danger here. Not to mention, the shock that covered his face when I told him that I was the Luna of the Lotus pack. It's a nagging suspicion tickling in the back of my mind telling me to be very careful where I go from here.

"We will discuss this more later. The Luna will be with me," Caspian speaks over my head to my guards behind me as his hand moves down my arm, cupping my hand in his, "You can go grab some food from the kitchen," I don't need to look to see that they bowed and walked away.

I just hope that I didn't get them in trouble. Yes, they are annoying and make me feel uncomfortable. They have done nothing to hurt me though. And it wasn't exactly their fault that Malachi pulled me into the woods. I wanted space and I didn't put up much of a fight not to go.

"I can stay with you?" I ask dumbly, following behind him as he leads me towards the hallway with the portraits, towards his office.

"Wait," I say before he can pull me further. My eyes scan the portraits, dropping to look at the gold plaque below the photo.

"Alexander Irons," I read aloud before looking up at the somber-faced man "Who is this?"

"Alexander is my great-great-grandfather. First Alpha of the Irons family," Caspian, moves to stand beside me, a proud smile on his face. I can't hide the surprise that crosses my face as I turn to look at him.

I don't know why I assumed that his family had been the Alpha family for generations. Dating back further to King Henry the eighth's. But my great-great grandfather is only a difference of four generations.

"These are all my grandfathers, the previous Alphas," he gestures to the other paintings on the wall before he points to the wall behind us, turning slightly to see them better, "Those are past Betas. Each adjacent to the Alpha they served with."

"Have I met your Beta?" I ask, allowing Caspian to finally start pulling me back through the hallway, slower this time as to look at the portraits a little better, "Or should I say your father's Beta?"

"Both actually. My father has a Beta and his son will be my Beta after the ceremony," he opens his office door for me, gesturing for me to go in first, "And no, not yet. You might not meet them until the Luna ceremony,"

"Oh," I stood in the middle of his office, eyes taking in all the details I might have missed earlier. Although calling it an office might be an understatement - it could easily be considered more of a conference room. Why would someone need this large amount of space just for an office?

"Please sit, make yourself comfortable," Caspian sits in his chair with a sigh, his hands rubbing over his face. He watches me carefully as I move to sit in one of the chairs. Goosbumps rise on my arms at the scrutiny of his gaze and I have to supress a shudder from running down my spine.

"What?"

"Goddess, You really scared me today, Mia," he shakes his head as if trying to rid himself of a thought before his eyes met mine, "it felt like my heart had stopped completely, and my blood turned to molasses when they told me that you just disappeared." his hands made a motion like poof as if I had just vanished into thin air.

I feel my own heart skipping a beat at his words. Not because I made him worry, that wasn't done purposely, and I feel terrible about that. No, it was the implication of his words that got to me.

He cares, not that I didn't think he did, I mean not really anyway. I knew he had to care for me in some capacity or he wouldn't have brought me here. He would have left me in that diner, so that speaks for itself.

Still I have to ask, have to clarify that we are on the same page because sometimes it feels like I'm a little behind. Like maybe, I am misunderstanding the level of care that he's on.

"You care?" I didn't mean it to sound so insecure, so clingy, but thinking about it, there was no other way that that was going to come out, "I mean, you've just been so busy and earlier you seemed upset at me when I asked about postponing the ceramony," I trailed off, not knowing where I'm really going with this, but wanting to unravel the tides of emotions that are Caspian.

His eye brows furrowed and a frown overtook his features as he stared at me.

"Of course I care, I -"

"You have a funny way of showing it," I muttered, cutting off whatever he was going to say.

"Excuse m-" his voice was a little deeper and definitely a little rougher but he stops quickly, pinching the bridge of his nose and taking a deep breath.

"Look, I know you don't understand -" his voice is normal again, but I don't like the condescending tone. Like I am a child sent to him to be disciplined, not someone who is important to him.

"And whose fault is that, huh?" I cross my arms over my chest, holding his stare, but there is something about the look he's giving me that makes me look away first.

It's the look of the wolf, the first time I saw him in the woods. So predatory, like I was nothing more than a wounded rabbit that had crossed his path.

"Watch your tone with me, Mia," he says briskly, his posture straightening to stand at his full height, "I'm being lenient now because you're my Luna and don't know our ways, but I will not tolerate such disrespect again."

I resist the urge to apologize as I looked at him. Normally, that would be my go-to thing to say. I'm sorry for upsetting you,' or 'I'm sorry if I sounded rude, I'm just confused'. Not this time. I have done nothing wrong, and I'm frustrated with thinking that I have.

He's the one who made me promises that he hasn't kept. Telling me he'd explain everything, and that I'm important to him and his people. But since I've been here, he hasn't shown me much and he's explained even less. And when I finally c***k and demand answers, it's him who gets angry at me and then me who apologizes. No.

"Caspian," I said slowly, stepping closer to him, mustering as much inner strength as possible to match whatever wolfman Alpha energy he was putting off, "Respect is earned and works both ways. What kind of Alpha are you to demand respect from me without showing the same courtesy?"

I regretted my words almost instantly. I can see the anger as it rolls in and crashes over him like a wave on the sand. His eyes get dark and his breathing becomes heavy as his hands clench into tight fists at his sides. My confidence wavers slightly as a growl sounds from deep in his throat.

My eyes widen, and I take a startled step back as he starts shaking in his skin. Maybe I went too far and pushed a little too hard? I just wanted to prove a point, that I deserve respect too if I'm so important to him.

"Sir," I jumped at the unexpectedness of Dex's voice behind me. I hadn't even heard him or Travis come in but here they are, once again, to usher me away from the man that brought me here. I should be greatful that they are here. I mean Caspian has never looked as dangerous as he does right now, but he wouldn't really hurt me. Would he?

Accidents happen, my mind reminds me, and you are as fragile as glass among these wolves. Caspian's words from earlier ring in my head, and it's like a some clarity is shown to me. That's why I was given guards in the first place. Not because I'm in danger from anyone in particular, but because to these wolves, accidentally killing a human would be as easy as snapping a finger.

Something similar to a roar pushes my attention back to Caspian and I can't help the horror that crosses my face. Caspian is gripping his head, his body shaking as his skin tears open, slowly ripping him apart at the seams. I wish I hadn't looked, there is nothing that will ever get that image to leave my head. I could scream or vomit at the sight. Maybe both. He's quick to brush past me, and on instinct I jump back, hitting the book case I was standing by.

My heart is pounding in my chest, my breathing has a slight wheeze as I stare after him in silent horror. His skin ripping and tearing apart keeps playing in my mind over and over again. I'd pissed him off, pushed him too far, and now I know the consequences of that.

But we were just talking. I was just trying to prove my point that respect is a two-way street. How had it gone so badly so fast?

"Amelia?" Atticus walked into the room quickly, my guards parting like the Red Sea for him.

It's quiet for a moment. Dex and Travis look too shocked to speak, and it took me a few seconds to realize he is waiting for me to greet him back.

"Alpha," I say quietly, my head dropping to a small bow like how the other wolves respond. I wait to feel some sort of relief or assurance of safety. But none comes.

Instead, all I feel is the same intimidation that comes from being in Atticus' presence. I watch his eyes assessing the situation, calculating what happened and how to proceed from here. I can't help but wonder what he sees or what he thinks it means. Does he know what I said to his son? Would he think me in the wrong or Caspian?

"Gentlemen," He turned to face my guards, some sort of resolution made up in his head about the next step, "Thank you for your service today. The Luna will be in my care now,"

He turns back around, offering me his elbow, "Shall we?"